Friday, February 24, 2012

Can I Do This for You?

I promise that I will not subject you to 40 days of proselytising, but I have made it to daily Mass (yes, good counting: that means both times so far this week. And got ashes!) and I'm already convinced that it isn't just a few days' springlike weather in London that has given us all a bounce in our step. I feel the slowing down, the thoughtfulness, the reflection and light that I've been needing.

The hymn below, "Servant Song," has been in my head all week. One of my favorites. It applies to so much of life. To marriage, families, and friendship. I may have already printed the lyrics and given them to you at some point. (Also Elizabeth Foss' column "Don't Blink" but that's a discussion for another day! Stop Blinking! Unless you are sleeping. That is very important.) Whenever I'm at Mass and see "Servant Song" will be sung, I'm pretty certain it is God winking at me saying, "Here's your song! Hooray and thanks for coming!" (Because that's really how He talks, right?!)

I often give this hymn to friends when they are moving. We've just heard that 2 wonderful school families who've been very good to us are planning moves. One dear family we adore (4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys just the ages of our smalls but their girls are their oldest - what are the chances?) already moved to France. We can only be thrilled for our friends to begin new adventures in exciting places, but it sure feels funny to be graduating to being a more experienced parent at the school already. Being the new family is nice. Comforting in an ignorance is bliss sort of way. So I am ramping up all my questions to ask of them all before they leave.

Having queried friends whose corporate and military lives have made them move much more frequently than we have, I understand that there are benchmarks for settling in to life in a new place. It has been said that you feel somewhat adjusted in a new home and town within about six months, at a year you've begun to really make friends, and at 18 months those friendships become very strong. I certainly agree with that as it has been our experience, too. This time, though, we feel like we're on fast forward. On Valentine's Day last year, the Mister and I were here house hunting. I must pause here and give a cheer to our lovely friend who kept our 4 children for an entire week while we house and school hunted. She is still speaking to us and the children had likely their favorite week ever in her care. (We're also very lonely for her and hope she'll visit us this summer! Hint, hint and hurry over!) So we have not quite lived in London a year. And yet, we have dear neighbors and wonderful friends. We love our school. We are home. We are blessed.

It was lovely being out for Mass so early this morning, walking a regular route and discovering yet again that London is a city of little neighborhoods full of familiar faces. On the way to and from church I chatted with our Spanish trash man (we were so tickled to run into each other blocks from where we usually meet - at my back door!), the Scottish nun from our parish, and our very Irish handyman (who seemed positively delighted to learn I was just coming from Mass!). I had a renewed spirit before it was even time to head out to take the kids to school.

Now while I host a (cheese) pizza party for the smallest people, the Mister and Biggest Brother are back at school to play the drums with the school's Deputy Head Teacher and Biggest Brother's assistant teacher on guitars. Friday Guys' Night Out. In the basement of our sweet little school.

Will you let me be your servantLet me be as Christ to youPray that I might have the graceTo let you be my servant tooWe are pilgrims on a journeyWe are brothers on the roadWe are here to help each otherWalk the mile and bear the loadI will hold the Christ light for youIn the night time of your fearI will hold my hand out to youSpeak the the peace you long to hearI will weep when you are weepingWhen you laugh, I'll laugh with youI will share your joy and sorrowTill we've seen this journey throughWhen we sing to God in heavenWe shall find such harmonyBorn to all we've known togetherOf Christ's love and agony

Will you let me be your servantLet me be as Christ to youPray that I might have the graceTo let you be my servant too

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About Me

Mother of 4 who loves her smalls and her husband, And Now We Are Six is also devoted to ribbon, LEGO minifigs, glass cloches and NPR. She fancies wrapping and giving little presents. She longs to win dishwasher loading and sleeping competitions - two talents she regrets remain so hidden. Life in an increasingly distant past involved government and public relations (the favorite being crisis communications - skills still being used most days!). She dreams of opening a bakery and boutique filled with her favorites (ribbon, pretty paper, children's books, classic toys, vintage treasures, pastries, coffee, and hostess gifts). Meanwhile she is busy teaching her children Southern American English and to print without serifs. Thanks in advance for reading and even more, for cheering from afar. And for overlooking poor grammar and punctuation. Beginning with the blog title.